An open letter to all my Manic Depressive/ Bipolar friends:

Do not be ashamed of who you are. I know you are desperate for friends, but absolutely terrified of them seeing your manic side or your depressive side. (Dear heavens why does there have to be two?) I know that you are locked away in your house climbing walls and getting those million and one projects done or at lease half done, well maybe started at least. Or you are lying in bed crashing, too tired to move the blanket off of you, never mind getting out of bed. Let me congratulate you for getting out of bed and feeding yourself, or making it to the bathroom. I know that took all the effort in the world. I also know you probably don't want to hear that because you are feeling incredibly guilty, because suddenly your bed has the gravitational pull of Jupiter and you wish that you could just be normal. You are normal. You are normal for you regardless if you are up or down, or having a mixed episode. You are also loved. I promise you that I will be there in the manic times inviting you over to help me clean my house, after you put clothes on please, laughing at your zany antics and encouraging you to stay off of social media and freeze your credit card in a container of ice. I also promise that during your depressive states I won't make you talk to me, I won't say a word when you answer your door in the same clothes that you have worn for 4 or 5 days. I won't be Suzy sunshine and tell you wonderful things to cheer you up, but I'll clean the month worth of dishes you have piled up, do your laundry and bring you soup hot and ready right into your room so that you don't have to leave your fortress of solitude. I won't be mad at you when you call me at two in the morning explaining that you have just had some cathartic breakthrough or just had to share with me that there are currently 6 different kinds of frozen juice in your freezer and you need help picking the right one for this mood. The answer isn't all of them... I know you just made mud. I won't be mad when I don't hear from you for weeks on end because the fortress of solitude doesn't have a phone. I also promise that I won't hold it against you when you call me every name in the book because in your mania you have perceived I have done you wrong. I know it's the mania, this too shall pass. I also promise to be the one that if you greet me at the door covered in green jello and trying to climb the walls like spider man to call your doctor and have your meds checked. I know, you have had friends that when you disclose that you are bipolar back away from you slowly like some knife wielding killer. I know your other friends said they understood, but walked away after one to many calls at 3 am wanting to know if you wanted to go for ice cream.... how about now? Or, gave up because you kept missing coffee dates with them because of the gravity thing. I am not that person. I love you for you. Up or down or all around, I love you. If you ever need anything I am there for you. Don't hesitate to reach out!